Adam Savage's Favorite Tools: Wiggler Machining Center-Finder

Milling Machine "Wiggler" Centering Indicator: amzn.to/39SyspS
This week's tool tip is about an esoteric machining tool that Adam has used a few times lately in his machining projects. It's a "wiggler" center finder, used on his lathe and milling machine to perfectly line up the tool with the center of a piece of round stock. Adam used it recently to calibrate his lathe tailstock, and it's one of those tools where learning its name was a revelation for Adam's journey as a machinist!
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[@tested]

Milling Machine "Wiggler" Centering Indicator: amzn.to/39SyspS

[@derschwartzadder]

That isn't a wiggler.

[@Chewie6]

Show the dogo

[@ianmoone2359]

Currently unavailable - they don’t know when it will be back in stock.

[@Jambunctious]

I feel that someone could make a 4 gauge wiggler that would tell you which of the axes (x,-x,y,-y) was causing it to be out. I suppose going even further would be that it doesn't 'wiggle' it would just show how much force was placed on that axis on the last rotation. I know it doesn't take long to calibrate but this would just make the process simpler and quicker wouldn't it?

[@sebastiancardoso7264]

Hey Adam if you are reading this please take a look to the láser aligner that Dan gelbart demonstrates in one of His videos, you probably Will go woww. Sorry for my so so English!

[@Nicoya]

There's no better way to learn the correct name of a tool than to call it by the incorrect name multiple times on the internet.

[@No1sonuk]

Yeah. I was wondering why he thought a wiggler was "a little bit spendy" until I saw he was talking about a whole different tool.

[@AndrossUT]

​@@No1sonuk the wiggler goes on the end of the axial dial indicator. The dial indicator isn't the wiggler part.

[@No1sonuk]

@@AndrossUT This is what I envisaged when he said "wiggler": kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJnXc5eXp5mcjMk

[@No1sonuk]

@@AndrossUT In case my linked post doesn't go through: Google "wiggler centre finder" and you'll see what we mean about the wrong name...

[@lukebruheim1723]

That power drawbar works slick.... Who made it? I'd like one like that for my machine

[@sharkbaitsurfer]

People griping that it's called a coaxial indicator not a wiggler misses the point in my opinion - what is so engaging is the clarity of the explanation and enthusiasm that exudes from Adam's video. Adam thank you for a concise, entertaining and engaging explanation of using a device to perfectly centre over a hole and I literally don't care what it's called because I can google that part...

[@vankuipland]

I have always used and still use my British “ Verdict “ T8 dial test indicator “ 26 mm dial dia. It has an auto reverse stylus and swivel spigot. I have seen (and used only once ) these Co-Ex indicators but find them bulky an cumbersome and very expensive ! To clock out this ( rough ) hole with my Verdict would have taken me about 30 seconds or less ! Trust me ( 60 year experience as a toolmaker ) This way you don’t need all those different feelers for inside an outside ! If you want to go beyond the reach of this DTI you make a simple adaptor in which you can slide a rod and you would be able to clock out as far as you like and that includes square/ rectangular shapes. I might start a channel in the near future because watching this sort of thing frustrates the hell out of me but I respect you effort !

[@ZippoVarga]

I couldn't live without my wiggler. Being in the machining and industrial field most of my adult life, the right tool for the job is always your mind first, then the tool. Very well done Adam! Hats off to you my Friend. Cheers! Zip~

[@Graywoolf25]

Your hands on explanation are gold Adam. Please keep this tool tips videos coming.

[@hawkeye454]

Adam's self-filmed videos are hands down the best.

[@wilbertrongibson]

So a Coax indicator is used with the machine under power and the DTI, dial test indicator is used by turning the spindle by hand and has a multitude of other uses. A wiggler is an edge finder which in the UK we call a wobbler.

[@scottbrownley9594]

Hi Adam, great video. I havnt trawled through all the comments but one thing i noticed was the way you clamped the work down could be done a bit safer. The left hand bar had the outer end on the step block higher than the inner end holding the work, which is good, yet the outer end on the right hand side looked lower than the inside end of the bar, which is a nono - leverage wise. also the pinch bolts need to be as close to the work as possible, just my honest opinion. just want ya to be safe mate. keep up the awesome work!

[@Raynsideways]

I really liked the progression of the last few videos. It felt like a story. First you set out to make the giant bolt, this causes an issue with the lathe tailstock, so the next video is you fixing the tailstock. Then, you use the wiggler to make sure the tailstock is centered, and the next video you did a tooltip on the wiggler! It really felt like a process.

[@thewireninja]

During the slow zoom in on the wiggler I turned off the volume and played the interstellar docking theme at full blast. It was great.

[@89ludeawakening1]

An easy way to set the mill to the center of what your working on is measure and mark the center of the material with an X with string. Then chuck in a center punch and bring it down and touch the center of the x on the string. It will be as close to actual center that you can get without using the tool shown in the video.

[@keithmcdaniels1632]

Hi Adam, I didn’t read all the comments but I’m sure someone gave the same opinion I have. As with any machinists tool it’s only as good as the operator. Watch out for bent tips and cosine error. We actually banned coaxials from our shop after parts looked like they were dialed in with .001 of an inch were actually .004. They are also a huge safety problem. I don’t think I need to add a bunch of details. I’ve used them successfully but double check them with another indicator once and awhile.

[@slash09r1]

It's a coaxial-indicator. A wiggler is an edge finder, which will still find a hole center. On a bridgeport or any mill with an easily rotated spindle I would still prefer a dial test indicator and a mirror if needed.

[@ericthcartman1]

Bore dial, used them all the time when setting up engine blocks to bore the cylinders out

[@ashlardarned2540]

Please do more esoteric tool tips, even if they're expensive! I know that I don't know what's out there, and I want to know just in case it might solve a problem in the future!

[@Craftlngo]

shoutout to Clickspring. I learned there, what a wiggler does. I really hope he's continuing his work on the reconstruction of the mechanism of antikythera.

[@bulletproofpepper2]

I got mine for $65.00 and some change on the on line store named after the river in Brazil. I’m not making spaceship parts. Coaxial indicator is a great tool.

[@ClumsyCars]

Adam is the ultimate tool.

[@bryanstanley25]

I use a Blake coaxial indicator myself...they work great

[@cryomancer20x68]

20 year machinist here. What Adam is showing off is called a co-axial indicator. And yeah, a decent one is indeed pricey.

[@bryanwanek46]

Just ordered one. Thanks Adam!

[@Metal0011]

looking forward to the bridgeport spindle maintenance ODB

[@OriginalMomo]

You’ve got more than a little noise in your system. The wiggler body was all over the place. I saw it jumping up and down in the collet vertically, plus the play you were referring to. Considering how much you use it, I’d get it rebuilt ASAP.

[@williamwestonn]

hey Adam, iv used the same style of Centering while milling and with your tool, getting around 0.01-0.02 mm should not be a problem :) I really recommend just using a micrometer with a magnet on a tool and just turn it by hand :) This is how you center milling for aircraft engines

[@sammyiphone]

You’ve got two empty halves of coconuts and you’re bangin’ ‘‘em together! I use my Blake the same way. Is it better or worse? Switch axis. Is it better or worse? I use mine all the time and the guys around me always stop to look. Making extension probes for these is fun too. I regularly get to swing circles 8” or more and it’s fun to watch the coax dance around and find center in a minute or less.

[@adam-xl9ft]

I have always used a test indicator in a holder. So much easier once you learn the technique. No need to turn the spindle on. Just a mirror to read it when it’s turned around. Can also indicate surfaces true to x and y axis. Good video though

[@metalman6708]

That's a coaxial indicator lol. A wiggler I've herd in reference to an edge finder before lolol. But a coax is good if you're trying to tram in a drill or something on a lathe. On the mill you just use a regular test indicator and a mirror.

[@roberthorvatich]

Adam. Your mill head definitely needs some attention. Bridgeport uses plastic bushings in the variable speed sheaves. Yours are definitely worn an need to replacement. Parts are inexpensive and the job to replace isn't complicated, but time consuming. Plenty of how to videos on KZbin to guide you. New belt and bushings will make your machine run much smoother and sound so much nicer.

[@johncrea9395]

Adam Now that you have a Haimer, would make a great tool tip/video to compare the Haimer vs the coaxial indicator for finding the center of holes or round stock. Would love to see how much FASTER the Haimer is compared to the old school coaxial indicator John

[@sentuhankecundang7351]

ive been watching mythbusters on discovery channel since i was a kid and until now he had a youtube channel..man times flies

[@kayran5413]

Saw these all the time on Clickspring! Good to finally see how exactly they’re used!

[@diggumsmack2]

Wish Adam got the nomenclature correct though.

[@cahman8]

I've never been great at proper terminology but I've never heard this referred to as a wiggler before. A wiggler to me is an old style edge finder. A basic indicator will get you dead nuts centered and has multiple uses.

[@BROON71]

How about a Tool Tip on items we all use? Like your favorite Adjustable Wrench? Box End Wrenches? Needle Nose Pliers? Slip Joint Pliers? Etc.?

[@davidp2888]

"Where precision is concerned, inexactitude can lead to lots of long tail unintended consequences." That's word porn to me.

[@randymcwade8389]

If that’s word porn to you this is going to be a horror movie.

[@joost199207]

Thanks Adam, i'll probaly (maybe) never need this but it's very interesting.

[@MGower4465]

Maggie: "Adam, you're talking to your tools again."

[@Sassenhaim]

Sounds like something fun the quill of the mill ❤️ Maggie 😁😁😁 pet her for me The wiggler seems like something we could use at the shop 😁 I can eyeball it in, a lot of my colleagues aren't able because of disabilities. That would give them confidence

[@rasmillion]

As a machinist, to me a wiggles is a slightly different tool, that I would call a Blake centre finder/ coax indicator

[@TomMFD]

The Wiggler!? That was my nickname in college!

[@tedhaubrich]

Okay, the closest I've come to doing anything like this is using a cheap harbor freight dial indicator to check for warps in a table saw blades or to set knives in my jointer, so somebody tell me If I'm off the wall here, but is actually turning on the machines motor a bit nutty? Can you not just spin it by hand? Maybe even take a couple of readings along the x and z axis, split the difference and than dial it into precision?

[@igel1]

Nice Bridgeport!

[@G1951-w1y]

Put the mill in neutral and turn the spindle by hand. If done under power use the slowest possible speed.

[@handleymachine4421]

I’m assuming this setup was just for this demonstration. As I’m sure you don’t plan on drilling holes in the vice that the part was clamped to. Having said that. The flaws I saw: The clamp on the right side was tilting lower than the workpiece at the tail end. Kind of a no no. The part is not safely held in place. Also running the spindle while dialling in the part is not the best way to go. Hand turning the spindle in neutral would decrease the noise from the machine and if the hole is out of round. That would be easier to see. And you could even split any lack of concentricity between X and Y by just swinging 180 degrees for each axis. Just remember to always turn the spindle in the same direction for more precision readings. Just sayin.

[@woodworkerroyer8497]

Please do a head rebuild on that mill! I will probably never get a mill and I DEFINITELY dont have the patience for the precision required to rebuild one, but it would be AMAZING to watch!

[@teamblacksheep-]

Love your videos. Regards from canada

[@utahknivesandgearnick7647]

Coaxial indicator👌🏼

[@elliotlawful8120]

Maggie has words to say and must be heard. Let Maggie speak 2020.

[@ncot_tech]

If you have a sufficiently advanced milling machine, does there exist a fully automated wiggler that can drive its XY axes based on the output of the wiggler, without a person being involved?

[@sk8crtn]

co-axis indicator is what this is called. Wigglers are a bit different.

[@CsongorHalmai]

The chuck and the drill bits also have some (hopefully small) amount of eccentricity. I think the precision of such a tool requires a super fine drill anyway. Does this tool have any benefit if I have a normal (not ridiculously expensive) drill press?

[@Einfach_der_geilste]

Pro tip. Edge finders are not al acurate on outside rounds(at least on nc Maschines). And idealy that wouldent be a "hole" but a "bore" witch is mutche mure precisise. Sorry for bad Englisch

[@weedfreer]

I love this as it's often that I know what kinda sorta thing I'm after, however, when attempting to vocalise it is what I'm after or searching for it on Google, I get absolutely nowhere!! 😰

[@therabbitchannel2059]

I rekon when you know as much as Savage does, you can call it anything you want.

[@davidjohnson3635]

Thats a co axial indicator. A wiggled is sharpen metal rod that can move. It is used to find center off a center punch or center drill. It rotates at low rpm and the rod will run true.

[@jameswallace4794]

7:40. Adams arms wrapped around functioning machinery. Tisk tisk. You get fired or lose an arm for that. Machinists rise up!

[@andrews8259]

Oh, I know Adam talks a lot about being an "engineer," and that's fine whatever. But the actual mechanical engineer in me dying inside because we have procedures to ensure machinists don't touch the probe, and to let the tools/parts acclimate. Then again, he isn't measuring light bands, so his good enough method keeps me a little grounded.

[@kelseyrhodes9471]

Dial test indicator on a magnetic base is way cheaper and has lots of uses

[@jim1550]

Put the quill of the mill with the wiggler in the hole.

[@danhyde7501]

This is not a wiggler/wobbler(UK). With a Wiggler the style swing gets less and less as you get closer to a flat edge until you get past the Center line of rotation and it’s flies upwards.

[@chrish.3564]

Your initial hole is egg-shaped and to correct it put on a lathe and use a boring bar to get a round hole and you won't need the mill and have a perfectly round hole.

[@Jambunctious]

I feel that someone could make a 4 gauge wiggler that would tell you which of the axes (x,-x,y,-y) was causing it to be out. I suppose going even further would be that it doesn't 'wiggle' it would just give how much force was placed on that axis on the last rotation. I know it doesn't take long to calibrate but this would just make the process simpler and quicker wouldn't it?

[@jeepmanxj]

Your coax indicator should come with a qualified sheet to tell you the error between the different stems. The .0005 is only for a specific stem and changing it changes the reading. It's not important 90% of the time but that 10% will rain shit upon you if you don't knoe

[@EldarKinSlayer]

Do a one day build rebuilding your milling head.

[@ubob703Robert]

I've had a Blake Coaxial indicator for about 40 years. I rarely use it under power. Just wanted to tell you that I often used it for centering on shafts & for finding the center of square & rectangular objects. You simply raise & lower the quill manually as you switch front front to back side with the feeler tip. There is totally different tool called a wiggler. This ain't it.

[@sylvainforget2174]

I have one of those, however, it was never as accurate as a dial indicator or lit edge finder(on cnc).

[@privateparty4900]

Ironically a wiggler edge finder is the exact opposite of spendy. But yeah, this indicator is nice.

[@billbrennan8405]

Hello Adam , always loved you work on Myth Busters TV Show, always fun to see your work. Just getting Back into having a home metalworking home shop. Looking forward to adding you to my list of You Tube channels I watching. My tip to you , PLEASE never operate. Machine tool with a wristwatch & ring on as you can get snagged easily causing sever damage to your body. Look forward to seeing all your videos. BB

[@demon-sb4zq]

Ha adam huge fan I've been in love with your work ever sense since i wached Mythbusters whin I was younger it would be cool to see you make gilmi axe from lord of the ring's

[@Pikaohms]

Miss working with machines like this 😢 Darn you covid!

[@melody3741]

This reminds me of "naughty children get put in the pear wiggler"

[@tapio_m6861]

Everytime Adam uses some allegedly precise measurements and says "this right here is half of a thousandth of an inch" my European brain just shows 404. I guess that is very precise but you could very easily fool me with this lingo.

[@folxam]

roughly 1/100 mm, what Stefan Gotteswinter would categorize as "horrible, but ok".

[@matthewhelton1725]

The way he was using the Coaxial Indicator, the graduations were meaningless as far as any predictable distance (and that is OK for this application). If you want the graduations to mean something (or know the distance they represent) you must Calibrate the CoAxial Indicator during the setup. Not many people bother with this, if they are just locating the center of a circular feature.

[@ThZuao]

An inch is defined as exactly 25.4mm, so: 1/2*1/1000*25.4=0.0127 mm Yes, that's pretty darn precise. While CNC machines can go to 0.001 mm, you can't even measure below 0.02 mm withouth breaking out the immaculatelly kept tools of the Metrology Room.

[@Rapidpanda1st]

I usually have to work from 1 inch is 25.4mm so 0.001 inches is 0.0254mm ... half of that is 0.0127 so a shade over 1/100th of a millimetre.

[@ChrisBLong]

Yeah. But, it is kind of funny how they go fully decimal for this type of work, even though it's not proper metric. They'll convert from three-sixty-fourths and call it 47 thou, 0.047 inches, and I'm all like 'why don't you just do everything in thousands, it's so much easier'.

[@matjohn813]

Im a cnc foremen, I can find that hole center in 1/4 of the time and more accurate with a simple Interapid indicator 😭🤣

[@ukulelefatman]

Don't use it under power. Turn the spindle by hand. And, that's not a wiggler, it's a coaxial indicator. Not a very good tip there Einstein : )

[@joemendieta8061]

Should indicate with the spindle off. Take it off gear and pick up X first then Y. Or vis versa. By having the spindle on you don’t know which way to go to zero out the hole.

[@justinm4323]

Blake Coax is the only brand to buy.

[@georgezardecki5888]

This is coaxial dial indicator .

[@409darrob]

It's called a coaxial indicator

[@xenonram]

A wiggler is something different. This is a coax (co-axial) indicator.

[@qqqqqqqq1407]

we just call it a co-ax, like the cable

[@juliabentley2809]

Coaxial indicator

[@bigmanlars40]

Could have used a indicol and a tenth dial indicator and done the same thing...

[@cimmy02]

its called a coaxial indicator

[@ABoringTool]

The wiggler, got it

[@diggumsmack2]

A wiggler is a different tool than what Adam was displaying.

[@lpfreak1708]

Yup, not a wiggler. Coaxial indicator

[@ypaulbrown]

Yes!!!

[@alex0589]

I thought “coaxial indicator” was the big letters on your old crt TV when the cable went out

[@elmergriffin8369]

"Co-axial indicator" is the correct name or Coax indicator. There is a wiggler indicator but it is different looking.

[@iliopsoasL5]

"slow clap..." Well done.

[@tracylemme1375]

A wiggler is for centering a mark and is very useful. It can also be used as an edge finder. I have a coax indicator, but I use very little. I prefer an edgefinder if going only to a couple of thousandths. It is much faster for me. If greater accuracy is needed. I use a test indicator on an Indicol.

[@williamknopp6936]

But wiggler sounds better sooooooo

[@vaderdudenator1]

Yep, beat me to it. A wiggler is totally different

[@dmbworks8094]

"co-axial" and if you want to support an american company making them for about the last century look up Blake Mfg Co.

[@robertreither6917]

Hallo, Im a Service Engineer for CNC milling and lathes I use a Haimer Centro which is similar to your measuring device. (0.003mm centering accuracy) my tip don't let the spindle turn automatically. when centering move the spindle by hand, vibrations are avoided and more precise centering is possible. Thanks for your videos, greetings Robert

[@chuckoneill2023]

Robert - some of the instructions I’m reading are telling me that you need to use this with the spindle running - slowly - because the dynamics of the machine when static are not the same.

[@robertreither6917]

@@chuckoneill2023 Hallo, You are right and of course if the spindle is okay you should let it run low speed and center it. In Adam's case the noise/vibrations of the bad bearing let the indicator jump so it's not possible to differ between noise and offset. Best to fix the Spindel first 😉😁

[@Tamonduando]

I came to say this. It feels better to use it by hand first.

[@PhongTran-gu6fb]

U got run it at high speed

[@PhongTran-gu6fb]

Around 1200rpm just like a edge finder , it’s more accurate at high rpm

[@stepsinpairs]

This video and the tailstock repair video were brought to you by Adam's word of the week: concentricity

[@daanwilmer]

It's the AWOW!

[@bazzatron9482]

I'm still not sure he knows what it means though. He occasionally uses it to describe one thing "the concentricity of this circle", rather than using it to describe the relationship between two things. It'd like saying "this line is parallel" - parallel to what???

[@metalman6708]

Yeah he uses it wrong though. You're not lining up the concentricity finding center. You can say these two turned diameters are concentric to each other. GD&T gets real complicated.

[@jeepmanxj]

Work in a machine shop long enough and you won't even think the word is strange.

[@melody3741]

@@metalman6708 a center point is an infinitely small circle concentric to another....

[@classicbandgeek]

This is a coaxial indicator or bore dial, not a wiggler. A wiggler is used like an edge finder or center finder

[@glyph241]

✅

[@TheThomasCOOPER]

Yup, whoever told him this is a wiggler is horribly wrong! Not enough wiggle in this doohickey

[@noodles7011]

You would think this clown would know what he is talking about before giving "tips"

[@rmvdhaak]

@@noodles7011 Kindly fuck off.

[@ianmoone2359]

Garrett Goodfellow Centre finder? Adam couldn’t find the cheeks of his own ass with both hands, if you loaned him a bloodhound to sniff it out and a mirror on a stick to view it! 😜😂😂😉👍

[@19jaredbarsuglia81]

A “wiggler” is a different type of edge finder. This is a coaxial indicator. “Co-Axe”

[@diggumsmack2]

Oh how I wish he'd stop saying wiggler! A show with the viewership like this could change machine shop lingo for years! For the worse

[@badreddinekasmi8919]

@@diggumsmack2 That might be a little over dramatic. And he ask for the name so I'm sure he'll use the proper name after that.

[@kennyc1375]

The reason I love looking at Adam's comment section: someone will always answer everyone's curiosity.

[@ArcticWind444]

Cunningham's Law in action. :)

[@noodles7011]

You would think he would get his facts strait before giving "TiPs" I cant watch this clown any more. I'm glad I read this comment.

[@jonnyblaze_666]

I'm a time served toolmaker,it's a lot easier with a dial test indicator on a swing arm

[@hitwerterfinder4595]

The "noise" in the meassurement is also caused by the surface roughness of the hole.

[@amso9]

Yes, Adam needs to lube the hole.

[@hitwerterfinder4595]

@@amso9 Best thing would be to touch of on the outside diameter of the part. Since it is a turned surface it will be more round and smoother.

[@EvilGTV]

​@@amso9 Will still be lumpy, just lubricated. What he needs to do is give that hole a good reaming.... I hear lube can help with this process too.

[@luluuk]

Great comment. Was thinking the exact same, although some wiggle in the old spindle head system will add up too.

[@yak-machining]

@@EvilGTV 😂

[@SpencerWebb]

Respectfully, a wiggler is a different tool. That’s a coaxial indicator.

[@davidhile5363]

Big difference !!!

[@plugemup8678]

Faster is a "cone" to press into hole the center before clamping the part. Then the switch to edge finders to verify ;)

[@daffyf6829]

Excellent tip, thank you

[@whateg01]

That will get you close, and often close is close enough. However, if there is a burr on the edge, or if the surface you are dialing in isn't a complete circle, such as a hole through a tube, that won't work. Sometimes a coaxial indicator won't even work well in situations like that. A DTI in an indicol has never failed me. Coax indicators are pretty convenient sometimes, though.

[@steveattree9674]

I am no super machinist, but I still prefer to just indicate my holes. Is there an advantage to this coaxial thing

[@daffyf6829]

@@steveattree9674 if you've ever found yourself twisting awkwardly to see your indicator, that's when a coaxial is handy. It is more of a thing of convenience.

[@archieval49]

Personaly I prefer a vertical dial test indicator mounted on an "indicol" holder a lot faster and more accurate. Only time I use a co-ax indicator is when the hole is too deep.

[@tiagolomar]

Co axial indicator is very fast too...the correct use isn't showed in video.... I prefer to rotate the quill manualy and split the diference in one axis...much more faster

[@aserta]

Yup. Coax's are very particular in use. I mean, there's a reason, most kits come with rods that allow you to go up to 30 cm deep. It's a last resort tool, very twitchy. A last word (or other brands, but style) dial indicator is the tool for concentricity.

[@orangedream267]

@@aserta The only difference between a coax dial indicator and a normal dial indicator is that one is designed to sit in a rotating fixture. And both can be finicky, but it's up you to choose the correct tip and application of each. Also, you can check concentricity with a coax just fine, the tip just has to be able to reach both features. If your concentricity is good, your delta on the dial won't change (per feature). And that goes for both indicators. If you have a dial on a mag base that you've attached to the face of your spindle and you have the arm going literally everywhere in a 10ft cube around the machine (pretend for a moment the arm of the mag base can have as much length as needed to fill that cube and can move through solid objects) as long as that little tip can touch the two or more features you're checking (you can even move the arm to check the other feature because you're not moving X or Y on your spindle) you'll find out how concentric they are. This is the quick and dirty way. To do it the 'hoity toity' I'm-better-than-you way, you get yourself a CMM and check that shit like the lab rat you are. (I would probably take it to the CMM, because I like being precise)

[@xenonram]

@@tiagolomar It's a lot faster to do it while the spindle is spinning.

[@Rhoxyerworld]

Co axial indicators can actually be more accurate than a traditional indicator. Anything that is horizontal actually has a minute amount of drop when the shaft is not spinning. And to be honest anything other than a Blake is untrustworthy.

[@c0mputer]

Now everyone thinks this tool is called a wiggler. KZbin “makers” with mills are going to start calling them wigglers now.

[@kingsman428]

I'm getting a said *wiggler*

[@kentsugden6865]

Good video, just thought I'd share a tip: It's a lot faster when you don't turn on the mill. If you turn the spindle by hand it's much easier to tell where the high/low spots are and which way to move the table. Also that's a coaxial indicator. A wiggler/wobbler is a regular old edge finder.

[@EvilGTV]

Yep, that's how I normally use mine. High/Low in neutral for easier rotation, check at 180 degrees along one axis, split the difference, repeat on the other axis, then fine tune as needed. Very quick that way, and no chasing a test indicator around the mill, or mirrors.

[@dollarsignfrodofan77]

Find your center Adam. OHMMM lol

[@interex2050]

What you have there is referred to as a co-axial indicator. Even the provided link has the correct title. A wiggler is a completely different piece of equipment, also referred to as a center finder (i.e. Starrett S-828H).

[@interex2050]

As an additional note, there is a more accurate (direct) and potentially cheaper way to do this. This involve using a mirror, test indicator and stand (although for small bores most test indicators will come with their own arbors). The idea here is that you mount either the indicator or the stand/indicator into the machine spindle and rotate the spindle by hand. As the indicator is swept along the rim of the bore the deflection of the indicator will show (use mirror to see the dial as it rotates around) the deviation from center (just like the co-axial indicator). Adjust as needed to center. The reason this method has the potential of higher accuracy is two fold, firstly there is no reliance on the accuracy of the co-axial indicator (some are just not all that accurate) and secondly a 0.0001" test indicator can be had for a reasonable price.

[@ADBBuild]

@@interex2050 If you use an indicator holder like an Indicol, you can orient the indicator flat with the dial facing up and then you don't need a mirror. I've never used a coaxial indicator I would call "precision". They all seem to be sloppy and inaccurate. A little bit of skill with a dial indicator is WAY faster/more accurate.

[@interex2050]

​@@ADBBuild Excellent point, there are certainly many options that make the process more convenient. Though I was more alluding to that this can be done with tools that most will already have on hand (those with machine tools anyhow).

[@Micah__]

7:55 I’m just going to pretend you used “No Time For Caution” from Interstellar during this part. Lol

[@mathewhammond6843]

We never used a stop to stop the gauge from spinning. That's smarter than just grabbing it.

[@archieval49]

7:02 shows why I don't.

[@LCIsner20]

If it was on the rod, instead of the tapered part of the base, I think it would have better results. Any thoughts?

[@archieval49]

@@LCIsner20 Yes it would. Me, I just keep on forgetting that its there. I'm afraid it might snap on the thread.

[@BillJonesiii]

I think I saw on the manual of the one I used that if you use high enough rpms, the dial is supposed to stay in place and not spin. That never worked out though so I ended up using one hand to turn the spindle and the other to steady the dial. Looks like the stabilizer bar setup is a better and safer setup.

[@Marlfox570]

@jaxonriddleAt my work, some of our older cnc machines don't have a fancy probe, so I've used a co-ax tons of times with a high level of precision spinning around 100 rpm. We often have +- 0.001" tolerances on certain features and a high quality CMM double checks our work. You just need to get a decent quality co-ax and get a good feel for using it, just like with any indicator.

[@billfroh3080]

I prefer to spin the quilt by hand. Check the + and - side of the x and y axis'. If your hole is concentric you should have the same reading all the way around. If your hole is eccentric dial the + and - side of x axis to the same value and repeat for the y axis. This tool is also an excellent option for sweeping the head of your mill to guarantee it is perpendicular to your work peice, mill table or vice.